Seeking foster families for teens

Jeff Green | Oct 22, 2014

Family and Children's Services of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (FACSFLA) is searching the city and countryside alike for families who are able and willing to provide foster care for teenagers.

FACSFLA, which is the new name for the 120-year-old Children's Aid Society, has a large cohort of teenagers under its care right now.

According to Executive Director Steve Woodman, that includes 30 who would be best served in a positive foster home environment.

The alternative to fostering for the teens is a group home environment, which, Woodman said, “does not provide the example of life in a family environment that can set up teenagers for a successful future. We currently have a number of teenagers in group homes who would be suitable for fostering, and that is why we are putting a call out for foster families now.”

The shortfall is also the result of some changes the agency has recently made.

Its new “Vision for Fostering and Adoption" puts family-based care at the forefront of service. Woodman's fear is that if new foster families are not found, some teens will have to be moved out of the region because of the limited number of group home spaces that are available.

“Fostering is not for everyone,” Woodman, said, “but the changing face of fostering means it is open to different family structures, such as same sex families and one parent families.”

The process of becoming a foster family takes about six months, and includes a home visit, financial and police checks, and a ten-week training program. With a goal of finding 30 families by March of next year, the call is going out now.

“This is something that we can’t do without the community’s help. We need everyone’s help to find the foster parents we need,” said Woodman. “Even though we know most people don’t want to be foster parents, chances are most of us will know someone who could help. We’re asking people to spread the word and tell everyone they know.”

For further information, go to FACSFLA.ca, phone 613-545-3227, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.